Often, it is said, the history of a city or town may be found in the archives, history books, library shelves, historical societies or in someone's special diary. Too frequently overlooked is the local cemetery. The history of bygone eras can often be relived by walking among the many rows of headstones. Dysentery, financial bequeaths, Indian attacks, wars; so much can be learned if one but takes a moment to reflect.
Blandford has had at least ten different burial sites with other one-and-two-grave lots scattered throughout the town. The majority of these sites are not easily found today due to remoteness or the land being reclaimed by trees and scrub growth. One cemetery had to be completely moved when Cobble Mountain Reservoir was formed. Remains located in this cemetery were reinterred in Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, and Mundale (a section of Westfield). Also, bodies were re-buried in West Granville and in our own Hill Cemetery. At least one body was later buried in Chicopee.
Stannard Road Cemetery has relatively easy access during the summer months and the families of Babcock, Church, Frost and Hamilton who lived and died in the area are buried here. In the "Puddin Hill" section of town is the Warfield Cemetery and just off Sperry Road is the Hastings Cemetery.
In North Blandford, high atop a hill known as N-r Hill, can be found the headstone of Giles Tracy. Nearby, with diligent searching beneath leaves and pine needles, one can find the traces of a small burial plot used by a local group of Negroes who lived and worked in the area. On Herrick Road, Anthony and Lucretia Sizer and a grandchild name Uri are buried in a small family plot. On Gibbs Road is the Watson Burial site and a family by the name of David and Rebecca (a daughter) Knox can be found on Huntington Road. The Dayton family plot is located at the intersection of Route 23 and the former Sperry Road.
What of the other burial sites in town? Ida Barker, age ten years, died on March 14, 1870, and her sister Lottie, age three years and ten months, did just one week later of the dreaded smallpox. They were buried where they died, but the graves were apparently lost when a section of North Blandford Road was re-located. On Birch Hill Road, opposite the William Wyman (Elmer Hart) residence, is buried Estella Crooks, age one month and twenty-nine days. Angie Nye was buried on Brook Road on her father's farm. At the foot of Long Hill is a marker erected on the spot where a runaway horse and wagon saw its driver thrown and killed.
A seven month son of Henry B. and Hannah Wadham was buried on a section of the George Millard Road which has since been discontinued. The inscription on the stone reads:
"Lie here sweet babe
And take thy rest
God called thee home
When he thought best."
The "Hill" and North Blandford Cemetery remain active today. The "Old" Cemetery near the Blandford Historical Building was last used when Howard Gibbs was buried in 1941. One frequently finds tourists as well as our own school children doing "rubbings" of headstones and copying the many sayings which are inscribed on several headstones. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the weeping willow, angel faces and occasionally skulls were also carved into the markers.
Favorite verses also were often carved into headstones.
"Death is a debt
To Nature due
That I have paid
And so must you."
"Go home my friends
Wipe off your tears
I must lie here
Till Christ appears."
"My brothers and sisters too
Unto you all I bid adieu
No more we can each other see
Therefore, prepare to follow me."
Deacon Israel Gibbs who died on October 5, 1780 said:
"My soul, my body
I will trust
With him who numbers
Every dust."
In this same cemetery can be found the marker of William Kerr who was slain by the Indians at Fort George on a morning scout, 20 August 4, 1757. Jane Taggert left $1,300 to the 3rd school district and today Blandford still receives income on these invested monies. A marker was erected in her memory and the inscription reads:
"To commemorate her charity and worth the residents of the district erected this monument."
From August 1st, 1802, when George Baird died at the age of five months twenty-three days, until October 25th, 1802, when Ruth Cochran died at the age of seventeen, twenty- nine children died in the Town of Blandford. Research indicates these deaths were probably caused by dysentery. One family lost four children; six families lost two children; and the rest one each. A tragic loss of life of epic proportions! Many stones are broken and gone in the "Old" Cemetery. One can only wonder what other stories could be told if only those stately pines could talk.
Blandford residents served their town and country well as can be attested by the many flags that fly on Memorial Day, Blandford lost only one son during the Second World War, James Cook. These men and women served with dignity, pride and determination so characteristic of he hardy New England stock from which they were born.
The history of a town, yes, it's found in history books and diaries. But, let us not for- get the chronicle of time that can be read on headstones if one but takes the time to stop, read and reflect upon the history as told on its white, grey and red soapstone markers.
From Stone Walls Magazine, Summer, 1992
Blandford has had at least ten different burial sites with other one-and-two-grave lots scattered throughout the town. The majority of these sites are not easily found today due to remoteness or the land being reclaimed by trees and scrub growth. One cemetery had to be completely moved when Cobble Mountain Reservoir was formed. Remains located in this cemetery were reinterred in Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, and Mundale (a section of Westfield). Also, bodies were re-buried in West Granville and in our own Hill Cemetery. At least one body was later buried in Chicopee.
Stannard Road Cemetery has relatively easy access during the summer months and the families of Babcock, Church, Frost and Hamilton who lived and died in the area are buried here. In the "Puddin Hill" section of town is the Warfield Cemetery and just off Sperry Road is the Hastings Cemetery.
In North Blandford, high atop a hill known as N-r Hill, can be found the headstone of Giles Tracy. Nearby, with diligent searching beneath leaves and pine needles, one can find the traces of a small burial plot used by a local group of Negroes who lived and worked in the area. On Herrick Road, Anthony and Lucretia Sizer and a grandchild name Uri are buried in a small family plot. On Gibbs Road is the Watson Burial site and a family by the name of David and Rebecca (a daughter) Knox can be found on Huntington Road. The Dayton family plot is located at the intersection of Route 23 and the former Sperry Road.
What of the other burial sites in town? Ida Barker, age ten years, died on March 14, 1870, and her sister Lottie, age three years and ten months, did just one week later of the dreaded smallpox. They were buried where they died, but the graves were apparently lost when a section of North Blandford Road was re-located. On Birch Hill Road, opposite the William Wyman (Elmer Hart) residence, is buried Estella Crooks, age one month and twenty-nine days. Angie Nye was buried on Brook Road on her father's farm. At the foot of Long Hill is a marker erected on the spot where a runaway horse and wagon saw its driver thrown and killed.
A seven month son of Henry B. and Hannah Wadham was buried on a section of the George Millard Road which has since been discontinued. The inscription on the stone reads:
"Lie here sweet babe
And take thy rest
God called thee home
When he thought best."
The "Hill" and North Blandford Cemetery remain active today. The "Old" Cemetery near the Blandford Historical Building was last used when Howard Gibbs was buried in 1941. One frequently finds tourists as well as our own school children doing "rubbings" of headstones and copying the many sayings which are inscribed on several headstones. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the weeping willow, angel faces and occasionally skulls were also carved into the markers.
Favorite verses also were often carved into headstones.
"Death is a debt
To Nature due
That I have paid
And so must you."
"Go home my friends
Wipe off your tears
I must lie here
Till Christ appears."
"My brothers and sisters too
Unto you all I bid adieu
No more we can each other see
Therefore, prepare to follow me."
Deacon Israel Gibbs who died on October 5, 1780 said:
"My soul, my body
I will trust
With him who numbers
Every dust."
In this same cemetery can be found the marker of William Kerr who was slain by the Indians at Fort George on a morning scout, 20 August 4, 1757. Jane Taggert left $1,300 to the 3rd school district and today Blandford still receives income on these invested monies. A marker was erected in her memory and the inscription reads:
"To commemorate her charity and worth the residents of the district erected this monument."
From August 1st, 1802, when George Baird died at the age of five months twenty-three days, until October 25th, 1802, when Ruth Cochran died at the age of seventeen, twenty- nine children died in the Town of Blandford. Research indicates these deaths were probably caused by dysentery. One family lost four children; six families lost two children; and the rest one each. A tragic loss of life of epic proportions! Many stones are broken and gone in the "Old" Cemetery. One can only wonder what other stories could be told if only those stately pines could talk.
Blandford residents served their town and country well as can be attested by the many flags that fly on Memorial Day, Blandford lost only one son during the Second World War, James Cook. These men and women served with dignity, pride and determination so characteristic of he hardy New England stock from which they were born.
The history of a town, yes, it's found in history books and diaries. But, let us not for- get the chronicle of time that can be read on headstones if one but takes the time to stop, read and reflect upon the history as told on its white, grey and red soapstone markers.
From Stone Walls Magazine, Summer, 1992